The Queen then took her ­preferred seat behind the driver. These things matter when you are 92.

You have your favourite chair, tea cup and biscuits, and routine is important.

Both of these women will have bonded during the overnight journey in the royal train to carry out engagements in ­Cheshire, with the Queen dispensing the solid, common sense advice she has learned the hard way after 66 years on the throne.

They might be from ­completely different backgrounds and ­cultures but the Queen and Meghan do have a ­surprising amount in common.

Obviously first and foremost they both share a deep love for Prince Harry, but they also have a real sense of duty and a desire to serve.

Meghan has a lot more substance than the majority of self-centred young American actresses and, from an early age she has wanted to change the world for the better.

This week she became an official partner in The Royal Foundation, joining William and Kate and husband Harry — all dubbed the “Fab Four” ­— to help charities close to their hearts.

Meghan wants to make a difference. She doesn’t want to be just a clothes horse or to merely cut ribbons and unveil plaques, and I don’t believe she’d be ­content with just being a mum and virtual stay-at-home housewife like most upper-class wives. She wants to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in.

Ayda won’t take any nonsense from the formidable Simon Cowell and, much as she loves Robbie, you can expect some straight-talking spats between them.

Of course there are those who will say she’s only getting a seat on the judges’ panel because of her husband’s fame, but I reckon Ayda , left with Robbie, is more than up to the job and will be a much needed breath of fresh air on a panel that was looking increasingly bored and out of touch.

It’s something that has made me feel very guilty, so I cannot thank my team enough – although there would have been even more of the precious life-saving blood if some of the boys who work with me and happen to be gay had not been banned from donating.

Gay men who have had recent sex are not allowed to be donors, which surely is an edict that needs to be changed.

There has to be a way to ensure safety without making gay men feel like pariahs.

Ocean's a goer

So It’s good news that the all-female Ocean’s 8 has trounced the other male-dominated movies in the franchise, because it clearly shows moviegoers WILL happily pay to see films starring women in leading roles.

Ocean’s 8 is a rather silly but hugely enjoyable spin on the heist movie with a satisfying end twist and decent parts for women – who are all too often usually “the wife” or “the best friend”.

Sandra Bullock wows in a plunging sequin gown with Rihanna at Oceans 8 premiere in London

It shows that the appallingly bad all-girl version of Ghostbusters, a real stinker that bombed horribly, was just a blip.

Hopefully, this will be the start of more big- budget films with kick-ass roles for women that aren’t twee or patronising.